Perennial Best Buys Honda Accord and Toyota Camry continue to shine with refinement, model diversity, and comfort. Both come in coupe and sedan form, offer economic 4-cylinder or sporty V6 power, have room for four adults, and are reasonably priced.
Recommended models include the smooth Buick Century, the import-flavored Chevy Malibu, the sporty Nissan Maxima, surprising Olds Intrigue, and the good-looking Pontiac Grand Prix. All come with V6 power, offer lots of standard equipment, and have pleasing road manners that will suit a variety of driving styles.
If you are looking for something a touch bigger without spending a whole lot more we suggest the Budget Buy Chevy Impala. It's the largest car in this class, has a powerful V6, and doesn't cost any more than the others.

Regal enjoyed a modest sales gain in calendar 1999 vs. '98, but is down for the first four months of 2000 vs. the year-earlier period. Buick's premium midsize isn't slated for a full redesign until the 2004 model year, and the industry rumor mill doesn't have much to say now about what it will be like. All that is known for sure is that Regal will continue to share a front-drive platform with a new lower-priced Buick Century.
However, Buick has hinted at possible things to come with a concept car, the Regal Cielo, unveiled at the 1999 Detroit Auto Show. Though basically a standard Regal GS sedan, the Cielo (Spanish for "sky") features a full-length twin-panel sunroof and modified rear window that power into a covered well between the rear seat and trunk. Buick says this conversion adds only 109 pounds to curb weight, and figures it could sell such a "convertible sedan" for about $5000 more than a solid-roof Regal, though no production plans have been announced.
In early 2000, however, Buick issued new Cielo press information emphasizing a prototype "Personal Vehicle Assistance" system recently added to the car. Appropriate for the Internet age, this PVA features a special onboard electronic network allowing installation of various "infotainment" appliances including navigation and anti-theft systems, pagers, and palm computers. The system also includes GM's OnStar communications and assistance service, a laptop computer that stores in a briefcase on the back of a fold-flat front passenger seat, voice activation for data functions and the retracting roof, and a Sony Memory Stick system allowing in-car data to be transferred to a home PC or other device outside the car. The Cielo has also been outfitted with a rear-seat entertainment system in a self-contained box that can plugged in for use at another location. Components include a flip-out LCD video screen and jacks for video game, DVD player, and headphones, plus storage. Right now, Buick will only say that both these systems may be available in the future through GM dealers. We think the back seat video-in-a-box is a shoe-in option for the Regal--and perhaps other Buicks--over the next two years. The PVA may take longer, but one never knows for sure in today's fast-changing world of electronics.